Greater Yellow-Headed Vulture

Cathartes melambrotus

A scavenger of the Amazon Basin and other lowland tropical forests of northern and central South America, the greater yellow-headed vulture is a Cathartes vulture closely related to the turkey vulture and lesser yellow-headed vulture. It is recognized by its dark body, long wings, and bare yellow to orange head, which can look brighter in adults. This species often flies low over canopy gaps, river edges, and flooded forest, using a keen sense of smell to locate small carcasses hidden under vegetation.

The greater yellow-headed vulture is not a pet species; human care is mainly in wildlife rehabilitation, zoo aviaries, and field research. Captive facilities need room for steady flight, safe perches, and a carrion-based diet managed with strict hygiene, while rehabbers must minimize imprinting and test flight condition before release. Conservation attention is tied to forest protection and scavenger safety, including efforts to reduce poisoning, shooting, and road or river-edge mortality where human access cuts through intact habitat.